Corrupt police personnel at Pakistani Embassy dismissed

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has dismissed a number of policemen tasked with security duty at the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul following complaints they harassed and took bribery from visa applicants.

Three police personnel of the embassy protection battalion belonging to 01 unit of the national police had been relieved from duty by the ministry, said Basir Mujahid, Kabul police spokesman.

According to Mujahid, a number of other officers accused of mistreating people in front of the Pakistan Embassy are scheduled to face the same fate.

Mujahid said it was not yet determined whether the suspended personnel would continue their duties in police ranks or not. But after a comprehensive investigation, their cases would be handed over to judicial organs, he added.

However, another source, wishing anonymity, told Pajhwok: “Based on complaints from respectable citizens and reports from the supervisory team, all the staff of 6th division have been dismissed by the MoI.”

He added good personnel would be hired instead to provide necessary facilities to visa applicants. Some complaints registered with the ministry demanded action against police taking bribes.

Earlier, several applicants of Pakistani visa have complained the visa process is time-consuming and middlemen demand $100 to help get visa in one day.

ZiaulHaq, one of the visa applicants, said he applied for visa two weeks ago but could not obtain it so far. He explained some people in uniform had links with embassy staff and they took $100 for a visa.

Naseer Ahmad, a resident of Kalakan district, said he had been visiting the embassy for the last five days. “Even I could not gain my passport back,” he complained.

According to Ahmad, an individual in police uniform told him to pay him 5,000 afghanis if he wanted the visa to be issued soon.

On the other hand, a resident of Khoshal Khan Mena, who declined to be named, said he went to the Pakistani Embassy about 20 days ago to receive a visa, but police mistreated him.

He had already taken her spouse to India for medical treatment but individuals in military uniform belonging to Gen. Jurat told him that the Pakistan Embassy would not issue him visa because his passport had Indian visa, but it was possible if he paid bribe.

Meanwhile, a resident of Anar Dara district of western Farah province, who visited the Pakistani Embassy for visa, said he surrendered his passport to a shop in front of the Embassy to obtain visa. He paid 4,000 afghanis for the visa.